Wap push over cell broadcast

ABSTRACT

A system provides push services and information to mobile stations via broadcast messages. The broadcast messages are made on predetermined cell broadcast channels, which are associated with an inbox on the mobile stations. Contained within the messages are Uniform Resource Locators (URL) that, when accessed, provide multimedia and other rich content to the mobile station. The system allows wireless carriers to provide features such as Wireless Access Protocol (WAP) push operations via cell broadcast to many mobile stations in a geographic area without the need to individually address messages to the mobile stations.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.12/196,592, filed Aug. 22, 2008, entitled “WAP Push Over Cell Broadcast”naming Justin McNamara, Jeffrey C. Mikan and Carolyn Tuthill asinventors. which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.11/265,597, filed Nov. 1, 2005, entitled “WAP Push Over Cell Broadcast”naming Justin McNamara, Jeffrey C. Mikan and Carolyn Tuthill asinventors (now U.S. Pat. No. 7,426,203), which applications are herebyincorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention is directed to wireless services. In particular,the present invention is directed to a broadcast mechanism for pushingservices and information to client devices.

2. Description of the Related Art

Global System for Mobile communication (GSM) is one of the most widelywireless access systems in today's fast growing communication systems.GSM provides circuit-switched data services to subscribers, such asmobile telephone or computer users. General Packet Radio Service (GPRS),which is an extension to GSM technology, introduces packet switching toGSM networks. GPRS uses a packet-based wireless communication technologyto transfer high and low speed data and signaling in an efficientmanner. GPRS optimizes the use of network and radio resources, thusenabling the cost effective and efficient use of GSM network resourcesfor packet mode applications.

Conventional GSM systems provide for broadcast services, such as cellbroadcast. When a cell broadcast is made, all clients of such systemsreceive the broadcast message. Conventional systems are only able tobroadcast text messages and are unable to communicate additionalinformation via cell broadcast. As such, Wireless Application Protocol(WAP) messages or Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS) information cannotbe sent in the conventional cell broadcast message. This limits theamount of information that can be conveyed and reduces the usefulness ofthe cell broadcast functionality.

SUMMARY

A system provides push services and information to mobile stations viabroadcast messages. The broadcast messages are made on predeterminedcell broadcast channels, which are associated with an inbox on themobile stations. Contained within the messages are Uniform ResourceLocators (URL) that when accessed, provide multimedia and other richcontent to the mobile station. The system allows wireless carriers toprovide features such as Wireless Access Protocol (WAP) push operationsvia cell broadcast to many mobile stations in a geographic area withoutthe need to individually address messages to the mobile stations. Thepresent invention also allows wireless carriers to providegeographically-targeted content to mobile stations without the need toknow which mobile stations are in a particular area.

In at least one embodiment of the invention, a method of deliveringmultimedia content via a wireless network to a mobile station using abroadcast mechanism includes monitoring an inbox for multimedia accesscontent included in received cell broadcast text messages received on apredetermined cell broadcast channel. The method includes accessingmultimedia content using multimedia access content included in a cellbroadcast text message of the received cell broadcast text messages inresponse to a command.

In at least one embodiment of the invention, an apparatus includes amobile station operative to receive text messages on a broadcast channeland operative to place received text messages in an inbox. The mobilestation is operative to monitor the inbox for received text messagesincluding multimedia access content. The mobile station is configured toestablish a connection based on multimedia access content detected in atext message of the received text messages. The mobile station isfurther operative to obtain multimedia services associated with the textmessage in response to a command.

Additional features of the invention are described below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary GSM/GPRS/IP multimedia networkarchitecture; and

FIG. 2 illustrates exemplary processes performed in accordance with thepresent invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)

FIG. 1 shows a GSM/GPRS/IP multimedia network architecture 100 thatincludes a GSM core network 101, a GPRS (General Patent Radio Service)network 130 and an IP multimedia network 138. The GSM core network 101includes a Mobile Station (MS) 102, at least one Base TransceiverStation (BTS) 104 and a Base Station Controller (BSC) 106. The MS 102 isphysical equipment or Mobile Equipment (ME), such as a mobile phone or alaptop computer that is used by mobile subscribers, with a SubscriberIdentity Module (SIM). The SIM includes an International MobileSubscriber Identity (IMSI), which is a unique identifier of asubscriber. The MS 102 includes a push inbox 102 a that receivesmessages broadcast by the wireless carrier.

The BTS 104 is physical equipment, such as a radio tower, that enables aradio interface to communicate with the MS. Each BTS may serve more thanone MS. The BSC 106 manages radio resources, including the BTS. The BSCmay be connected to several BTSs. The BSC and BTS components, incombination, are generally referred to as a Base Station (BSS) or RadioAccess Network (RAN) 103.

The GSM core network 101 also includes a Mobile Switching Center (MSC)108, a Gateway Mobile Switching Center (GMSC) 110, a Home LocationRegister (HLR) 112, Visitor Location Register (VLR) 114, anAuthentication Center (AuC) 118, and an Equipment Identity Register(EIR) 116. The MSC 108 performs a switching function for the network.The MSC also performs other functions, such as registration,authentication, location updating, handovers, and call routing. The GMSC110 provides a gateway between the GSM network and other networks, suchas an Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) or Public SwitchedTelephone Networks (PSTNs) 120. In other words, the GMSC 110 providesinterworking functionality with external networks.

The HLR 112 is a database that contains administrative informationregarding each subscriber registered in a corresponding GSM network. TheHLR 112 also contains the current location of each MS. The VLR 114 is adatabase that contains selected administrative information from the HLR112. The VLR contains information necessary for call control andprovision of subscribed services for each MS currently located in ageographical area controlled by the VLR. The HLR 112 and the VLR 114,together with the MSC 108, provide the call routing and roamingcapabilities of GSM. The AuC 116 provides the parameters needed forauthentication and encryption functions. Such parameters allowverification of a subscriber's identity. The EIR 118 storessecurity-sensitive information about the mobile equipment.

A Short Message Service Center (SMSC) 109 allows one-to-one ShortMessage Service (SMS) messages to be sent to/from the MS 102. A PushProxy Gateway (PPG) 111 is used to “push” (i.e., send without asynchronous request) content to the MS 102. The PPG 111 acts as a proxybetween wired and wireless networks to facilitate pushing of data to theMS 102. A Short Message Peer to Peer (SMPP) protocol router 113 isprovided to convert SMS-based SMPP messages to cell broadcast messages.SMPP is a protocol for exchanging SMS messages between SMS peer entitiessuch as short message service centers. It is often used to allow thirdparties, e.g., content suppliers such as news organizations, to submitbulk messages.

To gain access to GSM services, such as speech, data, and Short MessageService (SMS), the MS first registers with the network to indicate itscurrent location by performing a location update and IMSI attachprocedure. The MS 102 sends a location update including its currentlocation information to the MSC/VLR, via the BTS 104 and the BSC 106.The location information is then sent to the MS's HLR. The HLR isupdated with the location information received from the MSC/VLR. Thelocation update also is performed when the MS moves to a new locationarea. Typically, the location update is periodically performed to updatethe database as location updating events occur.

The GPRS network 130 is logically implemented on the GSM core networkarchitecture by introducing two packet-switching network nodes, aServing GPRS support node (SGSN) 132, a cell broadcast and a GatewayGPRS support node (GGSN) 134. The SGSN 132 is at the same hierarchicallevel as the MSC 108 in the GSM network. The SGSN controls theconnection between the GPRS network and the MS 102. The SGSN also keepstrack of individual MS's locations and security functions and accesscontrols.

A Cell Broadcast Center (CBC) 133 communicates cell broadcast messagesthat are typically delivered to multiple users in a specified area. CellBroadcast is a one-to-many geographically focused service. It enablesmessages to be communicated to multiple mobile phone customers who arelocated within a given part of its network coverage area at the time themessage is broadcast.

The GGSN 134 provides a gateway between the GPRS network and a PublicPacket Network (PDN) or other IP networks 136. That is, the GGSNprovides interworking functionality with external networks, and sets upa logical link to the MS through the SGSN. When packet-switched dataleaves the GPRS network, it is transferred to an external TCP-IP network136, such as an X.25 network or the Internet. In order to access GPRSservices, the MS first attaches itself to the GPRS network by performingan attach procedure. The MS then activates a packet data protocol (PDP)context, thus activating a packet communication session between the MS,the SGSN, and the GGSN.

In a GSM/GPRS network, GPRS services and GSM services can be used inparallel. The MS can operate in one of three classes: class A, class B,and class C. A class A MS can attach to the network for both GPRSservices and GSM services simultaneously. A class A MS also supportssimultaneous operation of GPRS services and GSM services. For example,class A mobiles can receive GSM voice/data/SMS calls and GPRS data callsat the same time.

A class B MS can attach to the network for both GPRS services and GSMservices simultaneously. However, a class B MS does not supportsimultaneous operation of the GPRS services and GSM services. That is, aclass B MS can only use one of the two services at a given time.

A class C MS can attach for only one of the GPRS services and GSMservices at a time. Simultaneous attachment and operation of GPRSservices and GSM services is not possible with a class C MS.

A GPRS network 130 can be designed to operate in three network operationmodes (NOM1, NOM2 and NOM3). A network operation mode of a GPRS networkis indicated by a parameter in system information messages transmittedwithin a cell. The system information messages directs a MS where tolisten for paging messages and how to signal towards the network. Thenetwork operation mode represents the capabilities of the GPRS network.In a NOM1 network, a MS can receive pages from a circuit switched domain(voice call) when engaged in a data call. The MS can suspend the datacall or take both simultaneously, depending on the ability of the MS. Ina NOM2 network, a MS may not receive pages from a circuit switcheddomain when engaged in a data call, since the MS is receiving data andis not listening to a paging channel. In a NOM3 network, a MS canmonitor pages for a circuit switched network while receiving data andvice versa.

The IP multimedia network 138 was introduced with 3GPP Release 5, andincludes an IP multimedia subsystem (IMS) 140 to provide rich multimediaservices to end users. A representative set of the network entitieswithin the IMS 140 are a call/session control function (CSCF), a mediagateway control function (MGCF) 146, a media gateway (MGW) 148, and amaster subscriber database, called a home subscriber server (HSS) 150.The HSS 150 may be common to the GSM network 101, and the GPRS network130, as well as the IP multimedia network 138.

The IP multimedia system 140 is built around the call/session controlfunction, of which there are three types: an interrogating CSCF (I-CSCF)143, a proxy CSCF (P-CSCF) 142, and a serving CSCF (S-CSCF) 144. TheP-CSCF 142 is the MS's first point of contact with the IMS 140. TheP-CSCF 142 forwards session initiation protocol (SIP) messages receivedfrom the MS to an SIP server in a home network (and vice versa) of theMS. The P-CSCF 142 may also modify an outgoing request according to aset of rules defined by the network operator (for example, addressanalysis and potential modification).

The I-CSCF 143, forms an entrance to a home network and hides the innertopology of the home network from other networks and providesflexibility for selecting an S-CSCF. The I-CSCF 143 may contact asubscriber location function (SLF) 145 to determine which HSS 150 to usefor the particular subscriber, if multiple HSSs 150 are present. TheSCSCF 144 performs the session control services for the MS 102. Thisincludes routing originating sessions to external networks and routingterminating sessions to visited networks. The S-CSCF 144 also decideswhether an application server (AS) 152 is required to receiveinformation on an incoming SIP session request to ensure appropriateservice handling. This decision is based on information received fromthe HSS 150 (or other sources, such as an application server 152). TheAS 152 also communicates to a location server 156 (e.g., a GatewayMobile Location Center (GMLC)) that provides a position (e.g.,latitude/longitude coordinates) of the MS 102.

The HSS 150 contains a subscriber profile and keeps track of which corenetwork node is currently handling the subscriber. It also supportssubscriber Authentication and Authorization functions (AAA). In networkswith more than one HSS 150, a subscriber location function providesinformation on the HSS 150 that contains the profile of a givensubscriber.

The MGCF 146 provides interworking functionality between SIP sessioncontrol signaling from the IMS 140 and ISUP/BICC call control signalingfrom the external GSTN networks (not shown). It also controls the MediaGateway (MGW) 148 that provides user-plane interworking functionality(e.g., converting between AMR- and PCM-coded voice). The MGW 148 alsocommunicates with other IP multimedia networks 154.

WAP Push Via Cell Broadcast

Conventionally, WAP push is performed by sending SMS messages via theSMSC 109 to individual mobile stations 102. This requires that eachmessage be individually addressed to a receiving MS 102. The presentinvention provides for pushing of Wireless Application Protocol (WAP)messages (and other services and information) via cell broadcast, whichadvantageously eliminates the need to address individual messages andallows for a single broadcast message to reach large numbers of mobilestations.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, at step 200, the mobile stations 102 may belistening to a broadcast channel on which broadcasts are communicated.This broadcast channel may be sub-divided into channels (step 201A). Thechannels may be assigned different priorities, where high prioritychannels broadcast important information and some low priority channelsbroadcast other information (step 201B). The customer and/or thewireless carrier may specify the channels to which the MS 102 islistening (step 200).

When a cell broadcast message is to be communicated, the PPG 111 (orother originating element) may specify to which region the broadcast isto be made. The cell broadcast may also be scheduled to go out at acertain time and on a certain channel. The CBC 133 is connected toswitches and cell sites 103 in each region and sends one message to thecell sites 103 at the appropriate time and on the appropriate channel(step 202).

The MSs 102 subscribed to the cell broadcast channel receive the messageand place it in the push inbox 102 a (step 204). The MS 102 isconfigured such that messages received on a predetermined channel aresent to the push inbox 102 a. These messages contain WAP push or otherpushed information. The push inbox 102 a is monitored by the MS 102 fora Uniform Resource Locator (URL). A user may click (or the MS 102 mayautomatically) navigate to the location specified in the URL to obtainmore information (step 208). Multiple cell broadcast messages may becombined into one message at the MS 102 to provide more information. Assuch, additional text associated with the push message may be displayedon the MS 102 (step 210).

As an example of the above, if a wireless carrier broadcasts an AmberAlert to all MSs 102 in a geographic area to report a missing child,information such as a license number may be provided in the text of thecell broadcast. A picture of the missing child may be provided via theWAP push mechanism. Similarly, a weather alert may be provided togetherwith video of a radar image, etc. Other types of WAP push scenarioswould be evident to one of ordinary skill in the art.

While the present invention has been described in connection with thepreferred embodiments of the various figures, it is to be understoodthat other similar embodiments may be used or modifications andadditions may be made to the described embodiment for performing thesame function of the present invention without deviating therefrom. Forexample, one skilled in the art will recognize that the presentinvention as described in the present application may apply to anyenvironment, whether wired or wireless, and may be applied to any numberof such devices connected via a communications network and interactingacross the network. Therefore, the present invention should not belimited to any single embodiment, but rather should be construed inbreadth and scope in accordance with the appended claims.

1. A method of delivering multimedia content via a wireless network to amobile station using a broadcast mechanism, comprising: monitoring aninbox for multimedia access content included in received cell broadcasttext messages received on a predetermined cell broadcast channel; andaccessing multimedia content using multimedia access content included ina cell broadcast text message of the received cell broadcast textmessages in response to a command.
 2. The method, as recited in claim 1,further comprising: converting an SMPP message received from a pushproxy gateway to the cell broadcast text message; and pushing multimediaaccess content in the cell broadcast text message on the predeterminedcell broadcast channel.
 3. The method, as recited in claim 1, furthercomprising: placing the multimedia access content in an inbox on amobile station in accordance with the predetermined cell broadcastchannel.
 4. The method, as recited in claim 1, wherein the multimediaaccess content includes a Uniform Resource Locator (URL).
 5. The method,as recited in claim 1, wherein the multimedia content includes at leastone of Wireless Access Protocol (WAP) information or MultimediaMessaging Services (MMS) information.
 6. The method, as recited in claim1, further comprising: receiving the cell broadcast text message inmultiple parts, and combining the multiple parts into a single message.7. The method, as recited in claim 1, further comprising: subdividingthe broadcast channel into a plurality of subchannels having differentpriorities, wherein the predetermined channel is one of the subchannels.8. The method, as recited in claim 7, further comprising: receivingmessages on at least one of the subchannels, and sending the messages toan inbox from a predetermined channel of the plurality of subchannels.9. The method, as recited in claim 1, further comprising: communicatingthe text message to all mobile stations in a predetermined geographicarea.
 10. The method, as recited in claim 1, further comprising:automatically generating the command by a mobile station.
 11. Themethod, as recited in claim 1, further comprising: receiving the commandfrom a user of the mobile station.
 12. An apparatus comprising: a mobilestation operative to receive text messages on a broadcast channel andoperative to place received text messages in an inbox, wherein themobile station is operative to monitor the inbox for received textmessages including multimedia access content and configured to establisha connection based on multimedia access content detected in a textmessage of the received text messages and further operative to obtainmultimedia services associated with the text message in response to acommand.
 13. The apparatus, as recited in claim 12, wherein the mobilestation is further operative to automatically generate the command. 14.The apparatus, as recited in claim 12, wherein the mobile station isfurther operative to receive the command from a user of the mobilestation.
 15. The apparatus, as recited in claim 12, wherein the mobilestation is operative to listen to at least one channel subdivided from achannel broadcast channel and assigned a priority of a plurality ofpriorities.
 16. The apparatus, as recited in claim 12, wherein the textmessage is received in multiple parts, and the mobile station isconfigured to combine the multiple parts into a single message.
 17. Theapparatus, as recited in claim 12, wherein the text message iscommunicated to all mobile stations in a predetermined geographic area.18. The apparatus, as recited in claim 12, further comprising: a pushproxy gateway (PPG) operative to push content to a wireless network; ashort message peer-to-peer (SMPP) router in the wireless networkoperative to convert a short message service-based SMPP message receivedfrom the PPG to the text message; and a cell broadcast center in thewireless network operative to communicate the text message to multiplemobile stations including the mobile station.